Boston Marathon Archives

30Aug 2020 by Bob Cargill

I’m Running the 2020 Virtual Boston Marathon

I’m psyched. I’m in. I’m participating in the Boston Marathon Virtual Experience. Of course, the Boston Marathon was cancelled this year due to the pandemic. Those of us who were entered to run this historic race were disappointed, but we totally understood. There was no way the race could have been held given the coronavirus crisis. The Boston Athletic Association (BAA) came up with a virtual version of the marathon, however, giving official entrants the opportunity to go the 26.2-mile distance on their own course, on their own time, sometime between September 5-14, 2020. So after having trained in the cold temperatures all winter to run this thing, I picked up where I left off a couple months later and trained all summer under the hot sun. I’m ready. I’m…

07May 2018 by Bob Cargill

Immortalizing Your Brand’s Audience on Social Media

Boston Marathon, Branding, Business, Marketing, Social Media

It feels good to be able to run 26.2 miles on any given day, but I was particularly happy to finish the Boston Marathon on April 16, 2018. For starters, this was the 11th time I've run Boston for charity, the fifth time for Christopher's Haven, raising nearly $2,000 this time around for this ridiculously awesome non-profit organization. It was also especially gratifying to be able to go the entire 26.2-mile distance despite such extremely inclement weather conditions. Pouring rain. Stiff headwinds. Cold temperatures. The long, challenging journey from Hopkinton to Boston this year was about as far from a walk in the park as you could imagine. After I crossed the finish line on Boylston Street, I asked one of the volunteers to take my picture, as I wanted…

26Apr 2014 by Bob Cargill

The Buzz on Twitter about the 2014 Boston Marathon

Boston, Boston Marathon, Social Media, Twitter

It's not only the oldest annual marathon in the world, held on the third Monday of April, it's one of the most popular road races of any distance among runners and spectators alike. It's the legendary Boston Marathon, a 26.2-mile trek from Hopkinton to Boston that began in 1897. This year, of course, there is likely more attention being given to the Boston Marathon than any other year in its storied history. Understandably so. The 2013 Boston Marathon was tragically marred by two bomb explosions near the finish line that killed three spectators and injured over 200 others. This year, there will be 36,000 official entrants in the marathon and more emotions wrapped up in the event than ever. What's being said about the 2014 Boston Marathon on Twitter? Plenty.…

16Feb 2014 by Bob Cargill

I’m Proud to Be Running the Boston Marathon for Christopher’s Haven

Boston, Boston Marathon, Fundraising

The 2014 Boston Marathon will be extra special for me. The victims of last year’s bombings will be on my mind every step of the way, but so will the kids who stay at Christopher’s Haven, "a home for kids when cancer hits home." To support my participation in the Boston Marathon this year and give to Christopher's Haven, please visit my fundraising page here, where you can make a secure online donation. Or you can donate by check — just make it payable to Christopher’s Haven and mail it to me at 33 Oakwood Avenue, Sudbury, MA 01776. Thank you for your kindness, generosity and support.

24Jan 2014 by Bob Cargill

I’m Running the 2014 Boston Marathon for Christopher’s Haven

Boston, Boston Marathon, Fundraising

For me, the day started out like any other Patriots’ Day on which I’ve run the Boston Marathon, but it ended not with the anticipated feelings of joy and accomplishment. Instead, I went to sleep that night restless, worried and overwhelmed by a sense of sadness and shock over the two devastating bombs that had exploded near the finish line on Boylston Street. That’s how a blog post of mine began on April 21 of last year, just six days after the 2013 Boston Marathon, an otherwise glorious event that was tragically marred by two destructive explosions along Boylston Street. I wanted to put down in words while it was still fresh in my mind everything I felt about my experience that day. The disappointment I felt in having my…

21Apr 2013 by Bob Cargill

Not Just Another Boston Marathon

Boston, Boston Marathon

For me, the day started out like any other Patriots’ Day on which I’ve run the Boston Marathon, but it ended not with the anticipated feelings of joy and accomplishment. Instead, I went to sleep that night restless, worried and overwhelmed by a sense of sadness and shock over the two devastating bombs that had exploded near the finish line on Boylston Street. It was going to be the 11th time I had run this historic race, my eighth time for charity, so the routine was familiar to me. Little did I know at the time that this would not be just another Boston Marathon. I woke up early, ate a good breakfast and made sure I had everything I needed for the long day ahead. I was proud to…

12Jan 2013 by Bob Cargill

I’m Running the 2013 Boston Marathon for Christopher’s Haven

Boston, Boston Marathon, Fundraising

I’ve done it before and I’m doing it again. I’m running the Boston Marathon for Christopher’s Haven. On April 15, 2013, I’ll be making another historic, heralded 26.2-mile trek from Hopkinton to Boston on behalf of the Boston-based nonprofit organization that bills itself as “a home for kids when cancer hits home.” The first time I ran the Boston Marathon for charity was in 1996, when I went the distance as a member of the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge team. Altogether, I’ve run Boston 10 times so far, seven times for charity and three times as an unofficial entrant without a number. I’ve always loved running, ever since I was a kid. Over the years, I’ve run hundreds of road races, including 13 marathons, 10 half marathons, the Falmouth Road Race…

12Apr 2010 by Bob Cargill

How My Dad Taught Me to Run

Boston Marathon, Fundraising

My dad joined me recently at one of the places -- Upper Union Street in Franklin, Massachusetts, the town in which I grew up -- where he taught me, my brother and sister to run more than four decades ago. Given that I'll be running the Boston Marathon once again this year, I thought it would be a great time to capture the memory and share the story... How My Dad Taught Me to Run When I was just a boy, my dad used to take me and my older brother and sister to a quiet, rolling, long stretch of road – less travelled, free of traffic and on the outskirts of town – where he would time each of us running for about a quarter of a mile or so, an exceptionally long distance for me…

25Jan 2010 by Bob Cargill

I’m Running the Boston Marathon for Christopher’s Haven

Boston Marathon, Fundraising

On April 19, 2010, I'll be pounding the pavement once again from Hopkinton to Boston, determinedly putting one foot in front of the other for more than 26 long, arduous miles. It'll be the 10th time I've taken this same exhausting journey. And I'll be tired and sore most of the way. But as I've said before, it doesn't get any more exciting than to cross the finish line of what is arguably the most prestigious road race in the world, the Boston Marathon. And given the fact that I'm running to help kids -- and their families -- who are fighting cancer, it doesn't get any more important. [caption id="attachment_2009" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Dan Durkin and Bob Cargill, the two members of the Christopher's Haven Boston…